Before the season even got going, folks had already written off the Clippers. No Paul George? Most people figured they’d be sitting at home come playoff time. But Ty Lue wasn’t trying to hear any of that. He never let his guys fall into the “rebuild” trap. They blocked out the noise—and now look where they are.

Lue said it best after clinching their spot: “They counted me out. They counted us out… But we are here.”

The Clippers didn’t just sneak into the postseason; they punched their way in with 50 wins. That final W against the Warriors? It wasn’t just for show—it sealed the deal and locked them into the fifth seed in the West. They’re heading to Denver now, ready to square off with the 2023 champs. Game 1 tips off this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at Ball Arena.

Here’s the wild part: both squads finished with the same record, 50-32. That means this series isn’t just another playoff matchup—it’s a straight-up heavyweight battle. But Ty Lue isn’t seeking any help. He won’t be calling Michael Malone for any Nuggets-related pointers. When asked if he’d pick Malone’s brain ahead of the Clippers’ first-round playoff matchup against Denver, Lue shut that down fast.

“It’s too close to try to pick somebody’s brain when they just got fired, just won a championship two years ago. I wouldn’t do that. No, out of respect for him, I wouldn’t do that.” said the 47-year-old coach.

Malone, the guy who literally brought the Nuggets their first-ever championship banner in 2023 and became the winningest coach in franchise history, got shown the door last week. Talk about brutal timing—right before the playoffs? Now here’s where it gets even more interesting. Ty Lue, who’s about to go toe-to-toe with Denver in the postseason, was asked if he’d consider reaching out to Malone for a little inside scoop. His answer? Hard no.

Why? Respect. Pure and simple. “That’s off-limits,” Lue basically said, making it clear he’s not about to cross that line, no matter how tempting the intel might be. In a league full of gamesmanship, it’s refreshing to see that some unwritten rules still hold strong.

So Lue isn’t calling up Malone for any tips on how to beat Denver—that means Nikola Jokic’s secrets aren’t getting out anytime soon. Speaking of experience, let’s talk James Harden for a second.

James Harden makes it clear Ty Lue and the Clippers are not afraid of Denver

James Harden’s postseason streak? Still alive and kicking. He’s back for his 16th straight playoff run—yeah, he’s been showing up every single year since 2010. And at 35, the man’s still chasing that elusive ring like he’s fresh outta Arizona State.

This Saturday at 12:30 p.m., he and the Clippers will square off against the former champs—the Denver Nuggets. And don’t let the seeding fool you—this one’s far from a cakewalk.

Harden knows it. “You never take this for granted,” he said, and honestly, I get it. Plenty of guys never even sniff the playoffs. But Harden? He’s showing up like clockwork, still putting up 22.8 points, 5.8 boards, and 8.7 assists a night.

Just last weekend, he dropped 39 and 10 on the Warriors in a dramatic OT win. That locked in the 5-seed and kept LA out of the Play-In mess. A couple nights before? A triple-double against the Kings. Vintage Harden, no doubt.

All-NBA buzz is starting to swirl, but he’s not sweating it. “It’d be an honor,” he said, “but I’m having too much fun with this team.” You love to hear it.

Of course, looming large is Jokic—MVP-caliber stats (again) and a loaded squad behind him. But Harden’s not blinking. “Offensively, anyone can get it going. Defensively, we’ve got to be locked in every night.”

No cap, this one’s got fireworks written all over it. Clippers vs. Nuggets? Grab your popcorn. This could be one for the books.